We have been progressing well on the passage to Tonga. We have survived the forecast 20 to 30 knot winds and 3 to 4 m seas and now as the conditions moderate life onboard becomes a lot less wearing and more enjoyable. We both have regained our sea legs and are eating and sleeping well. We passed the half way point yesterday and celebrated with some special snacks and a glass of red. Although nothing compares with the lobster and coconut crab we enjoyed back at Maupihaa atoll.

Last night while setting up the spinnaker pole to pole out the jib, one end slipped down the mast track and landed on my head with a crack. I saw stars on the inside of my eyelids and dropped to the deck to hang on until I worked out what had happened. After a minute I realised what had happened. and then secured the pole. I ended up with quite a lump on my head and some bleeding that quickly stopped. After a few hours sleep I was able to do my watch and today I feel fine. Like all accidents, it was a series of things that led up to the final outcome. In this case the fore deck light had failed and I could only get in Tahiti a much lower wattage globe that was not bright enough to really see on the fore deck. I had a head light on but right when I had my hands full moving the pole, its batteries went flat and I lost that light, so I was literally working in the dark on a bucking fore deck and didnt notice the pole height adjustment was not cleated off. So definitely a wake up call!

Bernie